The Seed
God is with Us
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 12/14/22
This weekend, the Gospel draws our attention to St. Joseph and his miraculous dream. In that dream, the angel confirmed the miraculous and divine nature of Mary’s pregnancy, referencing the prophecy of Isaiah: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, ... Read More »
The Lord is My Joy
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 12/07/22
On this Gaudete (Latin: “Rejoice!”) Sunday, the tone of our prayer at Mass is cued by the entrance antiphon: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! Indeed, the Lord is near” (Phil. 4:4-5). As we draw closer to the Christmas mysteries, we pray “to attain the ... Read More »
Make Straight His Paths
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 11/30/22
St. John the Baptist features prominently during the Advent season because He is the final precursor leading up to the advent of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He is the greatest of all who were ever born of woman (cf. Mt. 11:11), and the only prophet who was blessed ... Read More »
Christ is Coming
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 11/23/22
Advent is a time for preparations. For many of us those preparations have much to do with parties and packages and greetings cards and cookies. All of these things are good and they are a concrete expression of our love and gratitude for one another; this season has ... Read More »
We Have a King
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 11/18/22
Americans have a complicated relationship with monarchy. On one hand, our nation rejected a king at its founding; on the other hand, royalty and the trappings of monarchy constantly capture our cultural imagination, whether it be a royal wedding or the funeral of a long-reigning monarch. But this Sunday, ... Read More »
Preparing for Christ
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 11/09/22
We often think of Advent as the time of year set aside to prepare for Christ’s coming, and this is certainly true. But it isn’t the only time of year when we meditate upon the coming of the Lord. In fact, the month of November – the month dedicated ... Read More »
Voting with Duty and Dignity
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 11/03/22
As voting day approaches, I want to offer some guidance on how Catholics are called to engage in the democratic process. These considerations are taken from a doctrinal note from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on some questions regarding “The Participation of Catholics in Political Life.” ... Read More »
Making a Good Confession
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 10/26/22
Last weekend, with the parable of the proud Pharisee and the repentant tax collector, I took the opportunity to extend an invitation to the Sacrament of Penance, especially if it has been a long time since you’ve gone (note: sometimes we say reconciliation, or penance, or confession – all ... Read More »
Putting to Use the Gift of God's Graces
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 10/20/22
As many of you may know, I have the opportunity to teach CCD here in St. Henry. I am teaching the young men and women who are preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. This sacrament is the last of the sacraments of initiation that we receive as Roman ... Read More »
Sing to the Lord: Part III
Posted by St. Henry Cluster on 10/13/22
As a final installment in this music series of articles, I want to highlight a few more specific items from the Church’s teaching on sacred music. While reiterating the use of Gregorian Chant, the council fathers indicated that editions “be prepared containing simpler melodies, for use in small [i.e., ... Read More »